The Three Lions are currently second in Group H after a 1-1 draw with Montenegro in Podgorica on Tuesday, two points adrift of the table-toppers with four matches to play.

And with time running out for his side reach the summit of the standings, the 65-year-old has admitted he is eager for a good result in the reverse fixture in November in order to avoid the lottery of the play-offs.

"Nobody wants to be in the play-offs but the fact is that in the World Cup qualifiers, only one team qualifies [from the group automatically]," he told reporters.

"And, in the play-offs, it's going to be a good team because in every group there are at least two good teams."

Hodgson went on to say that he will address the play-offs further only when or if they should become an issue, also pointing to the favorability of England's schedule looking forward.

"I will worry about the play-offs when the play-offs come around," he continued.

"At the moment I shall focus all my attention on, first of all, the summer to try to do as good a job as possible when we go to Brazil [in June] and also when we play Ireland at home.

"Then I shall work even harder to focus on those four important qualifiers in September and October and if, as a result of our performances, we are second in our group, then we will worry about the team we have to face in the play-offs.

"We've got an important four to five weeks in September and October, three matches at home and one difficult one away in the Ukraine, so by at least not losing in Montenegro we have kept it in our own hands. We give ourselves a chance."